Georg Kaufmann Formenbau

What Georg Kaufmann Formenbau does

Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG, operating as GKTool, is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of custom injection moulding tools founded in 1972 in Busslingen, Switzerland. The company designs and builds bespoke moulds that integrate multiple production steps — cutting, edge-folding, graining, thermoforming, stitching, and back injection — into a single mould cycle, eliminating downstream trimming, lamination, and adhesive processes for automotive interior and exterior components. Its proprietary technology family includes Back Injection Moulding (foundational, over 2,000 tools built since the late 1980s), Injection Compression (co-developed with KraussMaffei in 1998), and the integrated IMC, IMW, IMG, IMT, and IMS technologies, several of which are patented or jointly patented with AUDI AG.

The business sells project-based, custom-engineered moulds plus accompanying engineering services (tool design in Catia V5, rheological filling simulation with Cadmould 3D-F, decor trials, and Tech-Center sampling) directly to automotive OEMs such as BMW, Daimler, Audi, and Volkswagen, as well as tier-1 suppliers and technology partners including LEONHARD KURZ, Wittmann Battenfeld, and PolyIC under the IMD VARIOFORM program. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales complemented by appearances at K (Düsseldorf) and Moulding Expo (Stuttgart) trade fairs, English and German partner webinars, and a technical content presence on LinkedIn and YouTube. Pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year programmes embedded in OEM vehicle lifecycles. Revenue is derived primarily from one-time tooling contracts with secondary streams from engineering services and technology licensing potential.

The company operates a 2,000 m² headquarters and production facility in Busslingen, Switzerland, with a wholly-owned subsidiary Georg Kaufmann TechCenter AG (est. 2000) handling testing, sampling, and pilot series. With approximately 55 specialists on staff, no disclosed funding rounds, and private family ownership under managing director and majority shareholder Manuel Widmer (who joined in 2014), GKTool is a focused, profitable niche supplier targeting the high-end decorative interior and smart-surface segments of the automotive tooling market.

Name

Georg Kaufmann Formenbau

Legal name

Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG

Website

https://gktool.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GKTool (Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG) is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer, founded in 1972, that designs and builds custom integrated injection moulding tools for the automotive industry, serving OEMs such as BMW, Daimler, Audi, and VW with proprietary multi-process mould technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Injection Mould Tool Manufacturing

NAICS

Industrial Mold Manufacturing (333511)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB)

Keywords

• Injection moulding tools
• Automotive interior tooling
• In mould decoration
• Plastic injection moulds
• Tool and die making

Headquarters

HQ city

Schweizerhalle

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Injection Mould Manufacturing: GKTool designs and manufactures custom injection moulding tools for automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers. Each tool is project-based, engineered to specific customer requirements with integrated tooling technologies. Over 2,000 tools have been built since the company discovered back injection technology.
2. Integrated Tooling Technologies (IMW, IMC, IMS, etc.): Proprietary integrated mould technologies that reduce manufacturing processes for customers. These patented technologies enable finished components in a single mould, offering cost reductions of up to 30% for customers.
3. Engineering, Consulting & Process Development: GKTool offers pre-project engineering and consulting services including component examinations, feasibility tests, tool and process development, decor trials, filling simulations, and 3D printing. TechCenter sampling and tool maintenance services are also provided.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GKTool designs, engineers, and manufactures custom injection moulding tools for the automotive industry, integrating multiple patented in-mould technologies (cutting, wrapping, graining, thermoforming, stitching) into a single tool so that finished decorative components are produced in one shot. The offering covers the full project cycle from feasibility analysis and tool design through sampling at the in-house TechCenter to series production of moulds, complemented by engineering services such as rheological simulation and decor testing.

Product overview

GKTool (Georg Kaufmann Formenbau AG) is a tooling manufacturer specializing in innovative injection moulding tools for the automotive industry. The product portfolio consists of a family of proprietary integrated tooling technologies — IMC (In Mould Cutting), IMW (In Mould Wrapping), IMG (In Mould Graining), IMT (In Mould Thermoforming), and IMS (In Mould Stitching) — built on the foundational Back Injection Moulding and Injection Compression core processes. These technologies integrate multiple manufacturing steps (trimming, edge-folding, thermoforming, graining, stitching) directly within the mould during injection moulding, reducing production steps, costs, and scrap. The offering is complemented by engineering services including in-house tool design (Catia V5), rheological calculations (Cadmould 3D-F), decor trials, and a dedicated Tech-Center for sampling and pilot series production. The company also develops its own patented technologies and conducts process and tool development for customer-specific applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Georg Kaufmann TechCenter AG: Independent testing and development centre for injection moulding technologies, established in 2000.

Products and services

• In Mould Cutting (IMC) Patented integrated tooling technology that enables decorative trimming directly in the injection mould during production, eliminating a separate post-mould trimming step and allowing edge trimming up to 0.5 mm from the component. Used by automotive interior suppliers producing finished decorative components in one shot.
• In Mould Wrapping (IMW) Patented integrated tooling technology for direct trimming and edgefolding of decoration in the injection mould during production. Reduces customers' manufacturing costs by up to 30%, produces finished components in one shot, and eliminates downstream trimming and edgefolding steps. Over 20 IMW tools had been built by 2020, with new-generation IMW successfully tested in 2025.
• In Mould Graining (IMG) Integrated tooling technology that transfers mould-surface structures (grains, logos, relief-like patterns) directly onto decorative materials such as TPO foils for 100% reproducibility shot-to-shot. Used for visible automotive interior and exterior components requiring consistent surface finish.
• In Mould Thermoforming (IMT) Integrated tooling technology that thermoforms foils directly in the mould cavity before injection moulding, eliminating a separate upstream thermoforming and trimming step. Enables decoration to extend into non-visible areas with high repeatability and reduces component cost and logistics.
• In Mould Stitching (IMS) Joint invention with AUDI AG that integrates decorative seam alignment, foam back-injection, edgefolding, and residual-material trimming in one fully automatic process — six processes in one tool. Achieves up to 12x faster production and eliminates adhesives, contributing to significant CO2 savings. Used for automotive interior components with decorative seams.
• Injection Compression (Spritzprägen) Integrated injection moulding process, co-developed with KraussMaffei in 1998, where decoration is back-injected in an open mould and the embossing stroke distributes the plastic melt to complete the component. Enables thin-wall components down to 1.8 mm base wall, weight savings, reduced clamping force, and more pronounced grain for sensitive or demanding decors.
• Back Injection Moulding (Hinterspritzen) Foundational GKTool technology, discovered in the late 1980s, that creates a direct connection between a plastic carrier and decorative material (textiles, foils, carpet) without laminating. Eliminates the laminating process and adhesive use, and forms the basis for the company's integrated in-mould technologies. Over 2,000 tools have been built using this method.
• Tool Design Service Engineering service for designing customer-specific injection moulds using Catia V5 R30 CAD, with short communication paths between GKTool's sales, project management, design, production, and innovation teams. Delivered as part of every custom mould programme.
• TechCenter Sampling & Pilot Production Sampling and pilot-series production service run from GKTool's own Tech-Center, equipped with a KraussMaffei KM420-3500DF injection moulding machine (420-tonne clamping force), a fully automated KUKA KR90 manufacturing cell, Krelus IR emitter and vacuum system, and an LCD 3D printer. Supports feasibility studies, pilot runs, and optimisation of customer components.
• Rheological Calculations / Filling Simulation Pre-project engineering service using in-house Cadmould 3D-F software to calculate shrinkage and warpage in advance, optimise nozzle placement, cooling design, and mould dimensioning. Sold as a standalone engineering deliverable supporting customer tool design.
• Decor Trials In-house decor testing service using GKTool's decor test bench to measure tool-relevant decor properties such as cutting force and clamping properties. Ensures tool designs eliminate visible slide separations on finished components and validates decor/process fit before production.
• Process and Tool Development Feasibility analyses of customer components and development of customer-specific production chains using back injection and integrated in-mould technologies. Includes continuous optimisation of mould and process technology across programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% manufacturing cost reduction for customers using IMW technology
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AUDI AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint invention and patent application for IMS (In Mould Stitching) technology in 2023. IMS integrates six manufacturing processes into one tool, enabling fully automatic production of interior components with decorative seams in a single process step. This partnership represents GKTool's most significant co-development relationship, resulting in technology that achieves up to 12x faster production and significant CO₂ savings.
• KraussMaffeicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Injection Compression process (Spritzprägen) in 1998 with the German machine manufacturer KraussMaffei. GKTool's Tech-Center is equipped with a KraussMaffei injection moulding machine (KM420-3500DF) with 420 tonnes clamping force. This technology partnership enabled thin-wall component production and remains a key technology in GKTool's portfolio.
• LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership in the IMD VARIOFORM® case study for efficient smart operating elements with Human Machine Interface (HMI). LEONHARD KURZ provides decorative film expertise while GKTool contributes injection moulding technology, creating integrated solutions for automotive interior components.
• Wittmann BattenfeldcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in the IMD VARIOFORM® case study. Wittmann Battenfeld supplies injection moulding equipment and expertise for backlit components and sensor-integrated film solutions.
• PolyIC GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership in the IMD VARIOFORM® case study for smart operating elements with HMI functionality. PolyIC provides touch sensor technology integrated into films for automotive applications.
• VDWF (Verband Deutscher Werkzeug- und Formenbau)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGKTool is a member of VDWF (German Tool and Mould Making Association), a network of tool-making companies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ARBURG: German manufacturer of injection moulding machines serving automotive and industrial customers globally. ARBURG's Allrounder and other machine platforms are commonly specified alongside custom tooling like GKTool's, making it a comparable peer in the automotive plastic component manufacturing value chain.
• Hasco Hasenclever GmbH: German manufacturer of standardized hot runner systems, mould components, and accessories. Hasco supplies the same tool shops and OEMs GKTool serves, making it a directly comparable supplier-tier peer in the automotive mould-making ecosystem.
• ENGEL Holding: Austrian injection moulding machine manufacturer listed as a partner on GKTool's customer/supplier page. ENGEL serves the same automotive interior and exterior injection moulding customers with capital equipment, complementing GKTool's custom tooling offering across the same OEM/Tier-1 programs.
• Wittmann Battenfeld: Austrian/German supplier of injection moulding machines, robots, and auxiliaries. Co-development partner of GKTool on the IMD VARIOFORM initiative for backlit and sensor-integrated film components. Both companies enable automotive decorative interior production, with Wittmann providing equipment and GKTool the integrated tooling that runs on it.
• Husky Injection Molding Systems: Canadian supplier of injection moulding equipment, hot runners, and moulds for packaging, medical and automotive applications. Comparable to GKTool as a provider of integrated injection moulding solutions and is a recognized broad incumbent in the mould-and-moulding-system category.
• Mold-Masters (MHTX): Global supplier of hot runner systems and injection moulding technology now operating under Master Mold Holdings. Sells into the same automotive Tier-1 and OEM base as GKTool and complements custom tooling with engineered hot runner systems, including large-scale solutions comparable to GKTool's Oerlikon HRSflow-equipped moulds.
• Meusburger Georg GmbH: German-Austrian supplier of standardized mould frames, plates, and hot runner components. As a foundational supplier to the European tool and mould making industry, Meusburger is comparable to GKTool in serving the same automotive custom mould-making market, though from a standardized components rather than custom integrated process angle.
• KraussMaffei: German manufacturer of injection moulding machines and reaction process machinery. A strategic co-development partner of GKTool since 1998 (Injection Compression / Spritzprägen) and supplier of the 420-tonne machine in GKTool's Tech-Center. Both firms sell directly into the automotive injection moulding ecosystem, though KraussMaffei sells the capital equipment while GKTool sells the custom tooling built to run on it.

Others

• LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG: German specialist in decorative and functional surface finishes and IMD films. Co-development partner of GKTool on the IMD VARIOFORM initiative for smart HMI surfaces. Operates in an adjacent rather than overlapping layer, supplying decorative film technology that GKTool integrates into its mould processes for the same automotive customers.

Emerging players

• PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of touch sensor films integrated into injection-moulded automotive surfaces. IMD VARIOFORM co-development partner with GKTool. A focused emerging player whose sensor film technology converges with GKTool's in-mould tooling to enable next-generation HMI interior components.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAy7mn4b4G7GWlaog_5IN0w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gk-tool
• Facebookfacebook.com/GKTooling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georg Kaufmann Formenbau